|  Game 1 Box Score (PDF) |  Game 2 Box Score (PDF)

NORMAL, Ill. – Early offense was the key for the Shockers on Saturday as Wichita State defeated Illinois State by scores of 8-6 and 14-6 on the first day of their series against the Redbirds.

Jenni Brooks got the start on the rubber for the Shockers and threw four innings, allowing five runs on nine hits, striking out three and receiving the win to push her record to 10-3. Both Kelsey Sterneker and Katie Malone came in for relief with Malone receiving her second save of the year.

To start game one, the Shockers had eight of nine batters reach base with Brittany Fortner reaching base twice. Wichita State collected just four hits but were able to bring across eight runs. The hits came from Fortner, Paige Luellen, Cacy Williams and Laurie Anne Derrico.

It was not until the third inning that the Redbirds scored their first run, collecting three straight hits and making the score 8-2.
In the bottom of the fourth, Illinois State led off the inning with a double and later hit a two-run home run to make the Shockers' lead, 8-4.

The Redbirds continued to fight back scoring one run in the bottom of the fifth to cut the lead to three, 8-5.

After a scoreless sixth inning, the Redbirds were able to cut the lead to two on a solo home run from Lauren Prader.

Malone then entered the game and collected the last to outs to give Wichita State the victory in game one.

In game two, Katie Malone got the start and threw all five innings in the game. Malone gave up six runs on eight hits and struck out four batters. She received her eighth win of the season for a record of 8-5.

Just like they have in the last week, Wichita State got things going quickly, with the first six batters of the first inning reaching base. Fortner got things started with a lead-off double that was followed by five more hits from, Luellen, Hitz, Williams, Mackenzie Wright and Ashley Johnson to take a 5-0 lead.

Illinois State did not back down after the Shockers scored five runs, scoring five runs in the bottom of the inning to tie the game heading into the second inning.

Wichita State then responded in the top of the second with after Fornter led off the inning with a solo home run. The Shockers then added three more runs on a home run from Williams.

Again in the fourth inning, Luellen hit a leadoff home run to make the score, 10-5.

For the third time in the game, Derrico led off the top of the fifth with a leadoff home run which led to four runs in the inning to take a 14-5 lead.

The Redbirds were able to score one in the bottom of the fifth but were unable to avoid the run-rule, giving the Shockers the victory in game two.

Wichita State is now 20-12 overall and 6-2 in the Missouri Valley Conference. The Shockers will be in action again tomorrow for the final game of the series beginning at 12 p.m.